Engine Failure and Rodent Damage - Possible Link?

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Originally Posted by reubsrover

I understand that it's unlikely, my line of inquiry is, could it be possible given certain stressors such as increased crank case pressure or turbo boost issues? Or contaminants in air intake system...

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Nup. But even if it was, that would not be covered by insurance (I suspect) as it normally doesn't cover mechanical failures.

Only other symptom to report is...the day before the issue surfaced there was a shuddering, almost felt like a fueling issue/misfiring or gearbox drive problem but only when the revs were low down around 1200.

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Originally Posted by DieselLSE

Nup. But even if it was, that would not be covered by insurance (I suspect) as it normally doesn't cover mechanical failures.

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They would if the mechanical problem was caused by rodents.

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Originally Posted by reubsrover

Only other symptom to report is...the day before the issue surfaced there was a shuddering, almost felt like a fueling issue/misfiring or gearbox drive problem but only when the revs were low down around 1200.

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Sounds exactly the same as my son's 3.0 D4. A slight shuddering was felt the day before a big-end ran dry then welded itself to the journal once the engine was switched off, caused by a rotated main bearing that blocked the oil into the bearing then crankshaft and to the adjacent big-end bearing.

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Originally Posted by reubsrover

I understand that it's unlikely, my line of inquiry is, could it be possible given certain stressors such as increased crank case pressure or turbo boost issues? Or contaminants in air intake system...

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Unless the rat damaged sensor wiring but the ecu didn't see them as "out of range" and over fuelled the engine causing oil dilution and bearing failure.

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Originally Posted by Graeme

Sounds exactly the same as my son's 3.0 D4. A slight shuddering was felt the day before a big-end ran dry then welded itself to the journal once the engine was switched off, caused by a rotated main bearing that blocked the oil into the bearing then crankshaft and to the adjacent big-end bearing.

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Mmm not sounding ideal did he rebuild it or replace engine or just scrap it.

A replacement 120K km engine c/w turbos was fitted but not before the original bearings were replaced with tri-metal bearings for their 2 wear layers so that the same can't happen again. The dead engine is in one of my sheds in case a use can be found for anything such as the heads.

Usually the 4.4's crank is beyond grinding but often the block is OK.

A rodent squatting in your engine bay is not going to prematurely wear the bearings. Take what the insurance are offering and move on. I'm really quite suprised they're offering anything.

Yep think you are up the creek without a paddle, auction vehicle with unknown service history.

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Originally Posted by V8Ian

A rodent squatting in your engine bay is not going to prematurely wear the bearings.

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No, but he might be sitting there with a chunk of alloy and a file putting shavings down the oil cap. A shower of bastards they are.